Generally, I would pick Lufthansa over United to Frankfurt from San Francisco. We need to get to Frankfurt for a connecting flight. However, I've read that there are labor troubles at Lufthansa. Are these issues likely to be resolved by July or are they a reason to choose United? Or are there reasons to choose United anyway?

Lufthansa flights were disrupted for 2 or 3 days in February by a pilot strike. The specific flight cancellations were announced several days in advance, and the disruptions to individual travelers was relatively limited.

There's no way to tell at this point if Lufthansa, or United, for that matter, will have labor issues in July. My guess, however, is that even including the pilots' strike, United has canceled more flights than has Lufthansa over the past 6 months.

Also, if you're connecting in Frankfurt, it's extremely likely that your flight from Frankfurt would be on Lufthansa, no?

I would have no doubts to pick Lufthansa over United, however you have to consider that flight LH455 SFO-FRA is operated by a B747-400 which has no individual TV screen in coach. Have no idea about United SFO-FRA. Does your final destinaton have a connection also from Munich ? I ask this because flight LH459 SFO-MUC is operated by an Airbus A340-600 which has individual TV screen in coach, then if you have this choice I would prefer to fly via MUC over FRA.

My connection is to Zagreb. I prefer to fly Lufthansa for that leg, rather than Croatia Airlines. Unfortunately, the connection time through Munich does not work.

http://www.airlinequality.com/StarRanking/4star.htm

Lufthansa has a 4 star rating - if that means anything to you.

United flight out of SFO is totally lacking in service, is old 747-400 with little seat spacing, you can't hear the movie unless your on top of cabin screen - no individual screens and poor facilities. Go with the A340 Lufthansa.

I have flown with United from Frankfurt to San Francisco and since they did not have enough pilots, there was an unplanned stop in Boston with a crew change. No more food or drinks after the stop. Total delay 6 hours. I will avoid United when I can.

Never had an issue with Lufthansa. Two weeks ago, both transatlantic flights (Düsseldorf - Newark and back) arrived 30 minutes early.

How about flights on Lufthansa City Line for inside Europe? Are they of the same quality as Lufthansa flights within Europe?

I have done them Frankfurt to Venice as well as Naples and Rome and everything was fine. Not as lavish service as on long haul flight but good.

My first outgoing flight is usually LH CityLine Regional Florence-Frankfurt, then I connect to Lufthansa.
The aircraft is an AVRO RJ85, code AR8, with about 95 seats.
The flight is 1 hour and 20 minutes. In coach free drinks/wine/beers/cofee/tea and one small sandwich, usually to be choosen between ham or cheese.
Cityline has smaller aircrafts but comfortable and good service. The downside of AR8 is that the wings are fixed and extended from the roof therefore rows 5 to 9 have limited space for handluggage above your head. Better to choose a row from 10 and higher. If I am not wrong the Munich-Zagreb flight is also operated with AR8 aircraft. Connecting in Frankfurt (or Munich) to Cityline means that being smaller aircrafts they are not parked at the finger gate of the terminal as for larger planes but you take a 5 minutes bus from the terminal gate to the external aircraft parking area.
Yes, definitely a good service in Lufthansa style.

Connecting flight with LH455 SFO-FRA is with LH 3482 FRA-ZAG B737-300. I would uggest you to fly FO-ZAG via FRA and the return flight ZAG-SFO via MUC LH3493 AR8 + LH458 MUC-SFO

Yes, the route Fabio has suggested looked the best to me. Of course, it's also REALLY expensive--even more than the other options.

Don't know if prices will drop at all. We have miles on United, but we can't take advantage of them for this Lufthansa itinerary.

I'm shocked at the responses. I would choose United over Lufthansa any time! United has better food and better service. I've flown many times from SFO to India, through Frankfurt, and I'm stuck on Luft for the Frankfurt to Mumbai or Delhi leg, and the food/service is terrible. But I always choose United for the SFO to Frankfurt portion and have a much better flight experience on the United legs.

cmlong

"...shocked ?"

I would say it is just a matter of different experiences and perspectives !

Will we go through customs in Frankfurt and security again between our SFO flight and our flight to Zagreb? Or will our bags just be checked through?

both two

you go thru EU customs in FRA (maybe not through security again but only passport checks) and your bags are throughckecked SFO-ZAG. You do not collect them in FRA.

Croatia is not Schengen.

United has economy plus, so if it was between UA economy plus and Lufthansa coach, I'd probably take UA.